Anne vs Deirbhile
Anne and Deirbhilecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Deirbhile #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Anne was ranked #651 and Deirbhile #579 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Anne and Deirbhile over time
Anne and Deirbhile appear together in 2 published lists, across 29 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1991–2017
Anne held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Deirbhile in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #58 in 1991, Deirbhile #248 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Deirbhile moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #612 and #695; by 2017 that had become #651 and #579.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anne #651, Deirbhile #579.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Deirbhile in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Deirbhile #229 in 1998.
The order changed in 2015: Anne moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #430 and #366; by 2015 that had become #358 and #426.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Deirbhile #426.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Anne | Deirbhile |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #579 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Deirbhile does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Deirbhile.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Deirbhile doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Deirbhile a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Deirbhile
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2015
Highest recorded position: #229 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2015).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #579 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2017.
Republic of Ireland · Girls